To further explore the clinical effect of massage therapy on navel,the related ancient literatures were arranged and analyzed,and several methods in ancient clinical were introduced, including stroking navel, rubbing navel, pushing navel, tapping navel and puffing navel. In addition, the theoretical basis of massage therapy on navel were discussed. The results revealed ancient literatures offered abundant theoretical basis to modern clinical practice, and there were evidences of treating gastroenteric and gynecological diseases with this therapy. Comprehensively, through the study of ancient literatures and modern research, therapy of massage on navel is believed to be promising and will gain popularity in the future.
China ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Massage ; history ; Medicine in Literature ; Umbilicus ; physiopathology

Metastatic epidural compression of the spinal cord is a significant source of morbidity in patients with systemic cancer. With improvment of oncotheray, survival period in the patients is improving and metastatic cord compression is en- countered increasingly often. Surgical management performed for early circumferential decompression for the spinal cord com- pression with spine instability, and spine reconstruction performed. Patients with radiosensitive tumours without spine instabili- ty, radiotherapy is an effective therapy. Spinal stereotactic radiosurgery and minimally invasive techniques, such as vertebro- plasty and kyphoplasty, percutaneous pedicle screw fixation, radiofrequency ablation are promising options for treatment of cer- tain selected patients with spinal metastases.
Decompression, Surgical ; Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Cord Compression ; therapy ; Spinal Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of andrographolide on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in macrophage foam cells.

METHODSThe mouse peritoneal macrophages were cultured in the media in the presence of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), ox-LDL+andrographolide, or neither (control). The phosphorylation of MAPK molecules (p38MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2) and the expressions of NK-κB p65 were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSAs compared with cells in the control group, the expressions of phospho-p38 and NF-κB p65 were increased in the cells cultured with either ox-LDL or ox-LDL+andrographolide (P<0.01), but attenuated significantly in the presence of ox-LDL+ andrographolide when compared with ox-LDL (P<0.05). The phospho-JNK increased in the presence of either ox-LDL or ox-LDL+andrographolide when compared with control cells (P<0.01), but no significant difference existed between ox-LDL and ox-LDL+andrographolide (P>0.05). The expression of phospho-ERK1/2 was increased in the presence of ox-LDL compared with the control cells (P<0.01), but no significant differences existed between the cells cultured in the presence of ox-LDL+andrographolide and the control medium (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAndrographolide could inhibit the activation of ERK1/2, p38MAPK and NK-κB induced by ox-LDL in macrophage foam cells, which might be one of its mechanisms in preventing atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Atherosclerosis ; immunology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Cells, Cultured ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; drug effects ; immunology ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Vasculitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of cognitive interventions (CIs) in the context of communi- ty based rehabilitation (CBR) on cognitive deficits (CDs) in stroke patients.Methods Ninety-two stoke patients with CDs were randomly divided into a CI group and a control group.All patients were treated with conventional CBR.In addition,the patients in the CI group were also treated with special intervention therapy.The patients in both groups were assessed with the neurological and cognitive status examination (NCSE) for cognitive functioning, the FCA for motor function and the BI for their ability in the activities of daily living.Results The NCSE,FCA and BI scores in the cognitive intervention group after treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment and also significantly higher than those in the control group after treatment.Conclusion CIs can not only improve CDs,but also enhance recovery of motor function and ADL.

0.05).In group Ⅱand Ⅲ,the carotid artery IMT was thicker and the amount of plagues were larger than those in group Ⅰ(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of the stents coated with sirolimus and anti-CD34 antibody on the short-term re-endothelialization and the long-term restenosis in Chinese Minipigs.

METHODSThree different types of stents [bare-metal stent (BMS), sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) and anti-CD34 antibody and sirolimus-coated stent (ASES)] were randomly implanted in the coronary arteries of 22 Chinese Minipigs. At two weeks after stenting, coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in 10 experimental animals. At three months after stenting, coronary angiography and OCT were performed in the remaining 12 experimental animals. Histopathologic examination was performed on the coronary artery segments containing stent after the animals were executed.

RESULTS(1) No in-stent thrombosis and parietal thrombus were found by coronary angiography, OCT and histopathologic examination at two weeks post stenting. OCT analysis showed that the covered ratio of stent struts by neointima in ASES group was higher than in SES group [(55.56 ± 35.27)% vs. (41.82 ± 23.28)%, P < 0.05]. The mean thickness of neointima in ASES group was significantly higher than in SES group [(89.0 ± 5.0) µm vs. (32.0 ± 4.9) µm, P < 0.01] and BMS group [(89.0 ± 5.0) µm vs. (44.0 ± 7.2) µm, P < 0.01]. Histopathologic and scanning electron microscopy examinations demonstrated that the covering level and quality of stent struts by neointima in BMS and ASES group were both better than in SES group. (2) At three months follow-up, quantitative coronary angiography analysis found that late in-stent lumen loss in ASES group was significantly lower than in BMS group [(0.18 ± 0.06) mm vs.(0.35 ± 0.06) mm, P < 0.05]. OCT analysis showed that the percent neointimal hyperplasia in ASES and SES group was significantly lower than in BMS group [(34.75 ± 2.64)% and (35.63 ± 2.07)% vs. (48.28 ± 3.25)%, both P < 0.01]. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated that the percent areal restenosis of ASES and SES group were both significantly lower than that of BMS group [(28.65 ± 5.64)% and (29.33 ± 6.07)% vs. (46.18 ± 8.25)%, both P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONThe stents coated with anti-CD34 antibody and sirolimus can attenuate the inhibitory effect of sirolimus on the re-endothelialization at two weeks after stenting and the anti-hyperplasia effect of sirolimus at three months after stenting.

Animals ; Antibodies ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Antigens, CD34 ; immunology ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Male ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of cadmium chloride in anterior pituitary and the relation between apoptosis and expression of procaspase-9 mRNA.

METHODSIn vivo studies:40 SD male rats were randomly distributed into four groups which were administered with CdCl2 at different doses by gavage for 6 weeks;

IN VITRO STUDIESthe rats' anterior pituitary cells were primarily cultured for 120 hours, then treated with CdCl2 at the dose of 0, 1.56, 3.12, 6.25, 12.50, 25.00, 50.00, 100.00 micromol/L for 6 hours; The indices included: expression of procaspase-9 mRNA, detection of apoptosis with TUNEL assay.

RESULTSThe results showed the excretion of ACTH, LH seemed to be decreased dramatically and the apoptosis inclined to enhance remarkably, and further more, the expression of procaspase-9 mRNA appeared to be increased significantly as compared with those of the control. It was show that a dose-effect relationship between the CdCl2 dosing and indices above with the regression analysis and a linear correlation between the mean gray value of apoptosis cell and the relative gray value of procaspase-9 mRNA positive cell. The results indicated that damnification, for example, apoptosis could be caused by certain dose of CdCl2 in anterior pituitary cells with dose dependent manner. Caspase-9 might play a role in the occurrence of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that cadmium could induce apoptosis of anterior pituitary both in vivo and in vitro in the manner of dose-dependent, and caspase-9 might play a role during above processes.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadmium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Pituitary Gland, Anterior ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To evaluate the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of ventricular septal defect(VSD).Methods A total of 164 cases of VSD were recruited as candidates to receive transthoracic minimally invasive device closure between January 2007 and October 2010,including 138 perimembranous VSDs,3 muscular VSDs and 23 supracristal VSDs.Among these groups,85 male patients were included.Four-champer view,five-champer view,left ventricular long-axis view,short-axis view and right ventricular inflow view were detected to evaluate the availability of device closure.Results A total of 152 cases(92.7%)were successfully closed with a device.All the patients were followed up more than 3 months arranged with a standard protocol.No complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) or associated valvular complications were observed.Three of the five cases with traced residual shunt after device closure closed spontaneously.Conclusion TEE plays an important role in transthoracic minimally invasive device closure of ventricular septal defect,which has been proved by the good follow-up results without CAVB and associated valvular complications.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Qingyi Granule (QYG) on the changes of total protein expressions in the pancreatic tissue of rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) induced by sodium taurocholate (STC).

METHODSSAP was induced by retrograded injecting 5% STC from the gut-pancreatic duct in 36 Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats. Then they were randomly divided into the SAP group and the QYG treatment group (abbreviated as the QYG group), 18 in each group. After successful modeling, rats in the QYG group were administered with QYG water solution (W: W = 1:1) once with an interval of 12 h (1 mL/100 g), while rats in the SAP group were administered with normal saline. The medication was performed four times. The total proteins were extracted from the pancreatic tissue of all rats to perform two-dimensional electrophoresis, fluorescent staining, and atlas analysis. The protein dots with differential expressions more than four times between each other in 48 h gel pictures were chosen and used for MALDI-TOF/TOF mass chromatographic analysis and biological information analysis.

RESULTSThe 5% STC induced SAP model rats had typical pathological changes in the pancreatic tissue. The proteomics changes of the pancreatic tissue were analyzed by gel image manipulation software. Twenty two disparate points were detected between two groups at 48 h, 5 points of the protein were up-regulated and 17 points were down-regulated of the total after QYG intervention. Nine protein spots expressed differently more than 4 times and stably at 48 h, 7 kinds of proteins have been identified by mass chromatographic analysis and Data Base Retrieval, and they were Serpinb1a 39 kDa protein, Serpinb1a 43 kDa protein, Prdx4 Prx IV, Clps, gamma-actin (Actg1), Eprs and Hadhsc. Those proteins were involved in signal transmit during the process of SAP pancreas--pathological injury analyzed from their functions.

CONCLUSIONSProteomics can well reflect the effects of QYG on differential expression proteins in the pancreatic tissue of rats with SAP. Studying differential expression proteins may provide a new theoretical basis and molecule target for QYG treating SAP.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Pancreatitis ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Proteome ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDEndogenous hydrogen sulfide is a new neuromodulator which takes part in the regulation of central nervous system physiology and diseases. Whether endogenous hydrogen sulfide in the central nervous system regulates cardiovascular activity is not known. In the present study, we observed the hemodynamic changes of hydrogen sulfide or its precursor by intracerebroventricular injection, and investigate the possible roles of endogenous digitalis like factors and sympathetic activity in the regulation.

METHODSNinety-four Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a right cerebroventricular puncture, then the hydrogen sulfide saturation buffer or its precursor injected by intrcerebroventricular catheter. A heperin-filled catheter was inserted into the right femoral artery or into the left ventricle, and changes of blood pressure or cardiac function recorded by a Powerlab/4S instrument. Phentolamine or metoprolol were pre-injected to observe the possible role in autonomic nerve activity. After rats were sacrificed, plasma was collected and endogenous digitalis-like factors were measured with a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. The aortic, cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles were isolated and the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase was measured as ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis under maximal velocity conditions by measuring the release of inorganic phosphate from ATP. Unpaired Student's t test for two groups or analysis of variances (ANOVA) for multiple groups were used to compare the differences of the changes.

RESULTSIntracerebroventricular injection of hydrogen sulfide induced a transient hypotension, then dramatic hypertenive effects in a dose-dependent manner. Bolus injection of L-cysteine or beta- mercaptopyruvate also increased mean arterial pressure (P < 0.01), whereas hydroxylamine-a cystathionine beta synthase inhibitor decreased the arterial pressure (P < 0.01). Hydrogen sulfide and L-cysteine increased mean arterial pressure, left ventricular develop pressure and left-ventricle maximal rate of systolic and diastolic pressure; these functions were decreased by hydroxylamine (P < 0.01). Glibenclamide (a K(ATP) channel blocker) blocked the transient hypotensive effect, phentolamine (an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker) blocked the hypertensive effect, and metoprolol (a selective beta 1 receptor blocker) blocked the positive inoptropic effect of central nervous system hydrogen sulfide. The endogenous digitalis-like factors in plasma were elevated (P < 0.01) after treatment with L-cysteine, association with decreasing Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in cardiac or aortic sarcolemmal vesicles (P < 0.01). Hydroxylamine injection reduced the endogenous digitalis-like factors level in plasma association with increasing Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in cardiac and aortic sarcolemmal vesicles.

CONCLUSIONCentral nervous system endogenous hydrogen sulfide upregulated mean arterial pressure and cardiac systolic function by activation of sympathetic nerves or release of endogenous digitalis-like factors.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cardenolides ; metabolism ; Central Nervous System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; metabolism ; Cysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Sulfurtransferases ; metabolism